Intel is leading a number of other technology companies in an initiative called “Digital Communities,” the goal of which is to assist communities in implementing wireless solutions and applications to improve government services and services for businesses and individuals. The consortium of businesses joining Intel in this initiative include such names as CDW, Cisco, Dell, EarthLink, IBM, and SAP.

13 pilot communities around the globe have been targeted for assistance. In the United States these communities include Cleveland, Ohio, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is using the assistance to increase government efficiencies, provide low-cost Internet access to small and disadvantaged businesses, and to connect parents with schools to help with homework and to provide access to other educational materials. Corpus Christi has a goal of creating a wireless network that will span 147 miles. Though the network will be capable of many uses, the community wants to use it for building inspection, video surveillance, and vehicle location services.

BRIAN'S OPINION
This is indeed a worthwhile endeavor. As wireless technology improves it becomes a dependable way of connecting more and more businesses and government agencies. Connecting different organizations and individuals without wireless technology in the past was expensive due to the infrastructure that was needed to form the physical connections. With wireless technology there aren't as many physical limitations to consider, which offers a way for governments and businesses to be connected in ways not previously imagined.

I can really see where local governments could improve many of their efficiencies. The wireless network in Corpus Christi is a good example; I assume that using the wireless network for building inspection means the inspector is entering his or her findings on-site into a computer that connects back to the main office. By having immediate access to the inspector's results, the main office does not have to wait for the inspector to return before it can begin to process those results. That keeps the inspector in the field to do more inspections and minimizes the delay in issuing the necessary paperwork back at the main office.

USER COMMENTS 3 comment(s)

Sponser(11:06am EST Mon Aug 22 2005)They should have sponsers, like the way coporations name baseball fields.

When you start to connect there could be an ad before you get connected. (Hey, its free–don't complain). So, for example, Google could sponser San Francisco WiFi and sell the opening screen advertising to pay for it.

Cities get free (or cheap) WiFi and companies make money. Capitalism at its best. – by visionary

Hackers!(3:54pm EST Mon Aug 22 2005)This effort seems worthwhile, however I want to point out that WiFi can be hacked into so if WiFi is going to be marketed for surveillance of buildings, it isn't unreasonable for the potential that thieves may hack the system wreak havoc. Intel should think about that and more importantly about how its going to impress that microprocessor industry when AMD is ripping them to shreds on new technology. – by Felipe Vonzuela

WiFi, WiMax(5:20pm EST Mon Aug 22 2005)Actually, don't the city-wide I think that the proposals use WiMax, not WiFi?

Intel is really pusing WiMax, but they better watch out for FLASH-OFDM, which some people consider a better technology. (Though it may just be the cell phone companies that use FLASH-OFDM as a 4G replacment for 3G's EV-DO–lots of new acronyms, but you've heard them here first so you won't be blindsided when they show up later).

In any case, anyone using WiFi for security deserves what they get. They better not be protecting anything so secure that high-tech thieves get interested.